Puerto Rico on Wednesday launched a bid for statehood by announcing a shadow delegation to lobby Congress.

Republican Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón announced the commission's members on the House floor, The Hill reports, saying Puerto Rico was reduced "to a second-class citizenship" because of its territorial status

It's hard not to accept some responsibility for what goes on in PR, given that they are a territory of the U.S.

However, I'd propose a compromise. I agree that allowing what would become the poorest State into the union is problematic. What I would like to see is a joint U.S. / PR plan to bring their economy, standard of living and infrastructure up to something that would be closer to the average U.S. state. Maybe a 10 to 20 year plan. One that doesn't involve welfare increases, but actual economic improvements. If we can meet that goal, Statehood is theirs if they want it. Given that they are a territory, not a State, mandating the required steps would be easier to accomplish as there would be fewer 10th Amendment concerns.

That might be unrealistic, but I'm not so sure.

"For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."